The trading deadline passed today at 4pm with the biggest deal freeing up more money for the Texas Rangers and the Boston Red Sox adding to their already potent bullpen. The division leading Detroit Tigers and Los Angeles Angels did not make any moves, but the Atlanta Braves have decided to make a run at the NL East leading New York Mets.
Here is a rundown of the transactions of the last 24 hours:
- In the big trade of the day the Boston Red Sox acquired reliever Eric Gagne from the Texas Rangers for pitcher Kason Gabbard and two minor leaguers. Boston also traded pitcher Joel Piniero and cash to the St. Louis Cardinals for a player to be named.
- The Atlanta Braves made two trades acquiring reliever Octavio Dotel from the Kansas City Royals for pitcher Kyle Davies, and traded pitchers Wil Ledezma and Will Startup to the San Diego Padres for pitcher Royce Ring.
- The Chicago White Sox traded OF Rob Mackowiak to the San Diego Padres for pitcher John Link.
- The Houston Astros traded Morgan Ensberg and cash to the San Diego Padres for a player to be named or cash.
- The Los Angeles Dodgers traded IF Wilson Betemit to the New York Yankees for P Scott Proctor.
- The Philadelphia Phillies acquired P Julio Mateo from the Seattle Mariners for a minor leaguer.
- The San Francisco Giants traded P Matt Morris to the Pittsburgh Pirates for OF Rajai Davis.
- The Cincinnati Reds traded P Kyle Lohse to the Philadelphia Phillies for P Matt Maloney.
- The Minnesota Twins traded 2B Luis Castillo to the New York Mets for C Drew Butera and OF Dustin Martin.
The big winner from the past couple of days has to be the Atlanta Braves. Adding Teixeria to a lineup that includes the Joneses, and Dotel to the bullpen means the Braves are thinking World Series. Also, the Red Sox convincing Gagne that he doesn’t need to be the closer is a nice move that may make them the team to beat in the American League.
I’m a bit surprised the Detroit Tigers didn’t make a move for a reliever with all the problems they have had this year, but they must be banking on Fernando Rodney and Joel Zumaya returning and being productive. The price must have been too steep for Dotel or New York Yankee Kyle Farnsworth for the Tigers not to pull the trigger.
The other surprise is the Los Angeles Angels. The only big bat they have in their lineup is Vladimir Guerrero. With Jermaine Dye and even rumors of Mike Piazza being available I thought that (while neither of those players are huge bats anymore) the Angels might go get someone to protect Vlad in the lineup.
So the trading deadline has come and gone for another season. Teams can still use waivers to try and obtain players until August 31st. Will we see anyone try and block a move through waivers? Guess we’ll have a month to find out.
Other News:
- Commissioner Bud Selig will be in attendance tonight in Los Angeles as Barry Bonds tries to tie the all-time home run mark. Selig has said that he will not take part in any celebrations.
- Tonight could be a night of milestones even if Bonds doesn’t hit a home run. New York Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez is at 499 home runs, New York Mets P Tom Glavine is sitting at 299 wins, and Detroit Tigers OF Gary Sheffield is at 2,499 hits.
